Page updated 15 November 2004 

The Updates

This section of the site covers guides published by Nicholson, Imray and Pearson and, therefore, virtually all the main interconnected inland waterways of England and Wales.

It should be noted that all the material presented here is entirely unofficial and not supported by the publishers of the guides. Instead this site relies entirely on submissions from the site's users.

[More Important Information]

Index of Waterways Covered:

Coverage

Although virtually all the waterways covered by Nicholson, Imray and Pearson are included, not all have their own page on the site.  Many of the short branches, especially where there are few updates, are included at the bottom of the page covering the main waterway.  Only those waterways for which no updates have been submitted and which form no through route on the system are not currently included.  Examples at one time included the Lancaster Canal (in Nicholson #5) and still include several of the navigable extremities of the Middle Level system (Imray Map of the Middle Level). The challenge is there! Give me an excuse to include them!

The Huddersfield Narrow Canal is a special case.  No updates to either Nicholson or Pearson had been submitted up to May 2001 when the canal was reopened and now, pleasingly, those making submissions now are updating the site's own guide rather than suggesting amendments to the Updates pages!

Another special case is the Rochdale Canal.  Updates are being included for the recently re-opened length within the Rochdale Canal section of the Updates pages.  (Currently this is held on a page which also includes updates to the Calder and Hebble Navigation and Huddersfield Broad Canal.)

How the Information is Arranged

Under the heading for each page in this section, is a list of junctions appearing on the page, and the waterways to which they connect.  These are links that allow you to jump to the right part of the page, or forward you to the page holding information about that waterway.

Updates are listed by the nearest obvious landmark indicated on the map of the guide which is being updated. Usually this is a bridge or lock.

The symbols associated with each update follow a pattern.  The first part indicated the guide and edition to which the update refers.  These reflect the colour scheme of the publishers logo. (Pearson have no consistency in their logo, so White on black was chosen as the most frequently occurring scheme.)  The second part is again colour coded to reflect the guide in question. For Nicholson this contains a guide number followed by the page number affected.  For Pearson this is a set of initials reflecting the title of the appropriate guide and either a map number (prefixed "#") or page number (prefixed "p") in that guide.  Examples appear below:

N97#2p37#2p53#3p25

This update applies to the 1997 edition of Nicholson. It affects Guide 2 pages 37 and 53 as well as page 25 in Guide 3.

P2kWW#13

This update applies to the 2000 edition of the "Welsh Waters" Pearson Canal Companion. It affects map #13 in that guide. The possible initials are:
CR = Cheshire Ring
EM = East Midlands
FC = Four Counties Ring
GU = Oxford, Grand Union and Nene
PW = Peninne Waterways
SA = Savern and Avon
SM = South Midlands
SR = Stourport Ring and BCN
WW = Welsh Waters
Where appropriate, updates to the main text will also have a "c1" or "c2" for Column One or Two.

I2kGOp10c2

This update applies to p10 of the 2000 edition of Imray's "The River Great Ouse and Tributaries" guide. The four possible initals are:
GO = Great Ouse
RN = River Nene
ML = Middle Level
FW = Fen Waterways
The last two represent essentially the same guide. The 2004 edition was spiral bound and included paginated mapping as well as a separate map and had the revised "Fen Waterways" title
In the case of updates to the main text of these guides references will also have a "c1" or "c2" for Column One or Two, as appropriate.

I2kMLmap

This update concerns an item which should be annotated on the Middle Level Map.  Typically the page number "map" will apply to an update for those waterways shown on the map but not part of the Middle Level Link Route between the Nene and Great Ouse.  These include all the other MLC waterways, the tidal reaches of River Nene and Great Ouse and the Great Ouse Relief Channel.

Early copies of the Middle Level Guide, had a map inserted at the back dated January 1998. Updates for this are shown as "map98".  Later copies had a map dated July 2000.  Errors which only appear on this map are shown as "map2k".

Submissions

Submissions to this section of the site are accepted for anything material to boaters, including the Pubs and Restaurants mentioned or omitted from the guides.  The only exception are items which can be regarded as temporary, e.g. River closures following flood warnings or maintenance stoppages on canals.

If you want to make a submission, please read the Submissions Page and either complete the form you find on that page or mail me with the same details requested on the form.

The Fen Waterways

It may be worth mentioning, for those exploring the Fen waterways for the first time, that some of the Imray map symbols do not always indicate the same facility as those found in Nicholson and Pearson Guides.  For example, a water tap in Imray indicates that water is available, but it may only be suitable for those filling portable containers and NOT via a hose to on-board tanks.

Entries marked with the FTG symbol have been gleaned from an early copy of "The Fens Waterways Guide". (See a review.) published by the Fens Tourism Group.

Any other comments about this section also are welcome.

Greg Chapman
Webmaster